The 2019 Tour de France is finally here with a stage 1 Grand Depart in Brussels to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Eddy Merckx’s first victory.
It is also a celebration of 100 years since the yellow jersey was first introduced into the race, an iconic piece of history that has developed its own folklore.
The yellow is of course the prize for the winner of this opening stage, a relatively flat 194.5km route finishing in the city centre.
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Any breakaway is likely to be snuffed out by determined sprint teams, with Australia’s Caleb Ewan (Lotto-Soudal), Italy’s Elia Viviani (Deceuninck–Quick-Step) and Netherlands’ Dylan Groenewegen (Jumbo-Visma) the most likely candidates to be in the mix.
Alexander Kristoff and Peter Sagan could also feature in what will be a fiercely contested stage win and yellow jersey.
Stage-by-stage guide to the 2019 Tour de France
1/64 2019 Tour de France
2/64 Stage 1, Grand Depart – Brussels (194.5km, flat)
3/64 Stage 1, Grand Depart – Brussels (194.5km, flat)
4/64 Stage 1, Grand Depart – Brussels (194.5km, flat)
5/64 Stage 2 – Brussels (27.6km, team time-trial)
6/64 Stage 2 – Brussels (27.6km, team time-trial)
7/64 Stage 2 – Brussels (27.6km, team time-trial)
8/64 Stage 3 – Binche to Epernay (215km, hilly)
9/64 Stage 3 – Binche to Epernay (215km, hilly)
10/64 Stage 3 – Binche to Epernay (215km, hilly)
11/64 Stage 4 – Reims to Nancy (213.5km, flat)
12/64 Stage 4 – Reims to Nancy (213.5km, flat)
13/64 Stage 4 – Reims to Nancy (213.5km, flat)
14/64 Stage 5 – Saint-die-des-Vosges to Colmar (175.5km, hilly)
15/64 Stage 5 – Saint-die-des-Vosges to Colmar (175.5km, hilly)
16/64 Stage 5 – Saint-die-des-Vosges to Colmar (175.5km, hilly)
17/64 Stage 6 – Mulhouse to La Planche des Belles Filles (160.5km, mountainous)
18/64 Stage 6 – Mulhouse to La Planche des Belles Filles (160.5km, mountainous)
19/64 Stage 6 – Mulhouse to La Planche des Belles Filles (160.5km, mountainous)
20/64 Stage 7 – Belfort to Chalon-sur-Saone (230km, flat)
21/64 Stage 7 – Belfort to Chalon-sur-Saone (230km, flat)
22/64 Stage 7 – Belfort to Chalon-sur-Saone (230km, flat)
23/64 Stage 8 – Macon to Saint Etienne (200km, hilly)
24/64 Stage 8 – Macon to Saint Etienne (200km, hilly)
25/64 Stage 8 – Macon to Saint Etienne (200km, hilly)
26/64 Stage 9 – Saint Etienne to Brioude (170.5km, hilly)
27/64 Stage 9 – Saint Etienne to Brioude (170.5km, hilly)
28/64 Stage 9 – Saint Etienne to Brioude (170.5km, hilly)
29/64 Stage 10 – Saint Flour to Albi (217.5km, flat)
30/64 Stage 10 – Saint Flour to Albi (217.5km, flat)
31/64 Stage 10 – Saint Flour to Albi (217.5km, flat)
32/64 Stage 11 – Albi to Toulouse (167km, flat)
33/64 Stage 11 – Albi to Toulouse (167km, flat)
34/64 Stage 11 – Albi to Toulouse (167km, flat)
35/64 Stage 12 – Toulouse to Bagneres de-Bigorre (209.5km, mountainous)
36/64 Stage 12 – Toulouse to Bagneres de-Bigorre (209.5km, mountainous)
37/64 Stage 12 – Toulouse to Bagneres de-Bigorre (209.5km, mountainous)
38/64 Stage 13 – Pau to Pau (27.2km, individual time-trial)
39/64 Stage 13 – Pau to Pau (27.2km, individual time-trial)
40/64 Stage 13 – Pau to Pau (27.2km, individual time-trial)
41/64 Stage 14 – Tarbes to Tourmalet Bareges (117.5km, mountainous)
42/64 Stage 14 – Tarbes to Tourmalet Bareges (117.5km, mountainous)
43/64 Stage 14 – Tarbes to Tourmalet Bareges (117.5km, mountainous)
44/64 Stage 15 – Limoux to Foix (185km, mountainous)
45/64 Stage 15 – Limoux to Foix (185km, mountainous)
46/64 Stage 15 – Limoux to Foix (185km, mountainous)
47/64 Stage 16 – Nimes (177km, flat)
48/64 Stage 16 – Nimes (177km, flat)
49/64 Stage 16 – Nimes (177km, flat)
50/64 Stage 17 – Pont du Gard to Gap (200km, hilly)
51/64 Stage 17 – Pont du Gard to Gap (200km, hilly)
52/64 Stage 17 – Pont du Gard to Gap (200km, hilly)
53/64 Stage 18 – Embrun to Valloire (208km, mountainous)
54/64 Stage 18 – Embrun to Valloire (208km, mountainous)
55/64 Stage 18 – Embrun to Valloire (208km, mountainous)
56/64 Stage 19 – Saint-Jean-de-Mauruenne to Tignes (126.5km, mountainous)
57/64 Stage 19 – Saint-Jean-de-Mauruenne to Tignes (126.5km, mountainous)
58/64 Stage 19 – Saint-Jean-de-Mauruenne to Tignes (126.5km, mountainous)
59/64 Stage 20 – Albertville to Val Thorens (130km, mountainous)
60/64 Stage 20 – Albertville to Val Thorens (130km, mountainous)
61/64 Stage 20 – Albertville to Val Thorens (130km, mountainous)
62/64 Stage 21 – Rambouillet to Champs-Elysees (128km, flat)
63/64 Stage 21 – Rambouillet to Champs-Elysees (128km, flat)
64/64 Stage 21 – Rambouillet to Champs-Elysees (128km, flat)
1/64 2019 Tour de France
2/64 Stage 1, Grand Depart – Brussels (194.5km, flat)
3/64 Stage 1, Grand Depart – Brussels (194.5km, flat)
4/64 Stage 1, Grand Depart – Brussels (194.5km, flat)
5/64 Stage 2 – Brussels (27.6km, team time-trial)
6/64 Stage 2 – Brussels (27.6km, team time-trial)
7/64 Stage 2 – Brussels (27.6km, team time-trial)
8/64 Stage 3 – Binche to Epernay (215km, hilly)
9/64 Stage 3 – Binche to Epernay (215km, hilly)
10/64 Stage 3 – Binche to Epernay (215km, hilly)
11/64 Stage 4 – Reims to Nancy (213.5km, flat)
12/64 Stage 4 – Reims to Nancy (213.5km, flat)
13/64 Stage 4 – Reims to Nancy (213.5km, flat)
14/64 Stage 5 – Saint-die-des-Vosges to Colmar (175.5km, hilly)
15/64 Stage 5 – Saint-die-des-Vosges to Colmar (175.5km, hilly)
16/64 Stage 5 – Saint-die-des-Vosges to Colmar (175.5km, hilly)
17/64 Stage 6 – Mulhouse to La Planche des Belles Filles (160.5km, mountainous)
18/64 Stage 6 – Mulhouse to La Planche des Belles Filles (160.5km, mountainous)
19/64 Stage 6 – Mulhouse to La Planche des Belles Filles (160.5km, mountainous)
20/64 Stage 7 – Belfort to Chalon-sur-Saone (230km, flat)
21/64 Stage 7 – Belfort to Chalon-sur-Saone (230km, flat)
22/64 Stage 7 – Belfort to Chalon-sur-Saone (230km, flat)
23/64 Stage 8 – Macon to Saint Etienne (200km, hilly)
24/64 Stage 8 – Macon to Saint Etienne (200km, hilly)
25/64 Stage 8 – Macon to Saint Etienne (200km, hilly)
26/64 Stage 9 – Saint Etienne to Brioude (170.5km, hilly)
27/64 Stage 9 – Saint Etienne to Brioude (170.5km, hilly)
28/64 Stage 9 – Saint Etienne to Brioude (170.5km, hilly)
29/64 Stage 10 – Saint Flour to Albi (217.5km, flat)
30/64 Stage 10 – Saint Flour to Albi (217.5km, flat)
31/64 Stage 10 – Saint Flour to Albi (217.5km, flat)
32/64 Stage 11 – Albi to Toulouse (167km, flat)
33/64 Stage 11 – Albi to Toulouse (167km, flat)
34/64 Stage 11 – Albi to Toulouse (167km, flat)
35/64 Stage 12 – Toulouse to Bagneres de-Bigorre (209.5km, mountainous)
36/64 Stage 12 – Toulouse to Bagneres de-Bigorre (209.5km, mountainous)
37/64 Stage 12 – Toulouse to Bagneres de-Bigorre (209.5km, mountainous)
38/64 Stage 13 – Pau to Pau (27.2km, individual time-trial)
39/64 Stage 13 – Pau to Pau (27.2km, individual time-trial)
40/64 Stage 13 – Pau to Pau (27.2km, individual time-trial)
41/64 Stage 14 – Tarbes to Tourmalet Bareges (117.5km, mountainous)
42/64 Stage 14 – Tarbes to Tourmalet Bareges (117.5km, mountainous)
43/64 Stage 14 – Tarbes to Tourmalet Bareges (117.5km, mountainous)
44/64 Stage 15 – Limoux to Foix (185km, mountainous)
45/64 Stage 15 – Limoux to Foix (185km, mountainous)
46/64 Stage 15 – Limoux to Foix (185km, mountainous)
47/64 Stage 16 – Nimes (177km, flat)
48/64 Stage 16 – Nimes (177km, flat)
49/64 Stage 16 – Nimes (177km, flat)
50/64 Stage 17 – Pont du Gard to Gap (200km, hilly)
51/64 Stage 17 – Pont du Gard to Gap (200km, hilly)
52/64 Stage 17 – Pont du Gard to Gap (200km, hilly)
53/64 Stage 18 – Embrun to Valloire (208km, mountainous)
54/64 Stage 18 – Embrun to Valloire (208km, mountainous)
55/64 Stage 18 – Embrun to Valloire (208km, mountainous)
56/64 Stage 19 – Saint-Jean-de-Mauruenne to Tignes (126.5km, mountainous)
57/64 Stage 19 – Saint-Jean-de-Mauruenne to Tignes (126.5km, mountainous)
58/64 Stage 19 – Saint-Jean-de-Mauruenne to Tignes (126.5km, mountainous)
59/64 Stage 20 – Albertville to Val Thorens (130km, mountainous)
60/64 Stage 20 – Albertville to Val Thorens (130km, mountainous)
61/64 Stage 20 – Albertville to Val Thorens (130km, mountainous)
62/64 Stage 21 – Rambouillet to Champs-Elysees (128km, flat)
63/64 Stage 21 – Rambouillet to Champs-Elysees (128km, flat)
64/64 Stage 21 – Rambouillet to Champs-Elysees (128km, flat)
For the big GC riders like Geraint Thomas and Egan Bernal (both Team Ineos), Vincenzo Nibali (Bahrain–Merida) and Jakob Fugslang (Astana), the priority will simply be to get through the day unscathed.
Here’s everything you need to know about stage 1:
When does it start? The race starts at around 11.25am BST (12.25pm local time).
Odds: The favourite for the stage is Groenewegen (6/4) ahead of Viviani (3/1) and Ewan (4/1).
What is the route? A flat an opening stage which begins and ends in the Belgian capital via a loop south to Charleroi and west via Mur de Grammont.
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